By BankHouseDave (195.93.50.10) on Tuesday, June 03, 2003 - 11:56 am:

The other thread about Willie Tyler and Lester reminded me that years ago I had a listing of all Motown's early albums and among them was one called 'We're off to Dublin in the green' by the Abbey Tavern Singers.

There must be a story about how an Irish ceilidh band wound up on Motown. Anyone know it? Are the Abbey Tavern Singers still with us - or was it the Andantes, Originals and Funks again in red wigs and kilts?

By King Billys Nemesis (212.159.52.150) on Tuesday, June 03, 2003 - 12:11 pm:

Begorrah,
wheres
o'hara,shaugnassy,and McNamaras Band
when you need them.
It was of course the
O'Funk
brigade that recorded the above album
so it was to be shure.

Jack O'Ashford
and his detroit blarney stone-airs.

Saint paddy's day alive,
pass the pochine over My wee Leprechaun

And lets all
dance on over to Father Moiurphys
Pass me my lucky 4 leaf clover
and heres to the green man.

Regards to ya heathens over the watter
Father Flannagan
(so it is to be sure)

By BankHouseDave (195.93.50.10) on Tuesday, June 03, 2003 - 12:14 pm:

Bejesus. It's just as oi suspected.

By douglasm (68.113.13.31) on Tuesday, June 03, 2003 - 12:22 pm:

Should have grabbed the LP number....
did a googlesearch and came up with it, or, them on both Hanna Barbarra (sp) Records (HBR), and on VIP. Apparently they are related to the Abby Tavern in Dublin, Ireland. Strange stuff, but that's what made rock radio so interesting in 1966.

By Bushmills for me (217.14.178.28) on Tuesday, June 03, 2003 - 01:08 pm:

Douglasm
to be sure!
Mick-trick
on the hills of Carrickfergus

By Davie Gordon (193.122.21.42) on Tuesday, June 03, 2003 - 03:32 pm:

I've been wondering about that one myself.

They're an Irish group of course but the record doesn't seem to have been released in the UK.
It was a hit in Canada on ARC, Hanna Barbera picked up the US rights and managed to get a
Billboard Hot 100 hit with it (it peaked at #94) - but it was huge in Detroit getting as high as # 5 on WKNR. Hanna Barbera Records (HBR) shut up shop in '67 and somehow or other Motown picked up the album presumably because it was such a big hit in Detroit.

My main question is WHY ??? - I haven't heard the
Abbey Tavern Singers' version but I'm assuming it's a lyrically watered down version of a song that goes back to the struugle for Irish independence in the 1910's

If I remember rightly the original opening lines
were

"We're of to Dublin in the Green (in the Green)
With our bayonets glittering in the sun .. "

I suppose it's understandable why I can't trace a UK release of the record but I'd be interested in
nay recollections our Detroit members have of the record.

Davie

By John Lester (217.40.194.192) on Tuesday, June 03, 2003 - 03:49 pm:

I have the album and paid a fortune for it in the 70's

It is simply not my style of music....nuff said.

By Michael/cleoharvey (160.79.83.208) on Tuesday, June 03, 2003 - 03:58 pm:

I started the Willie Tyler thread and I must tell you, this is why I love this Forum. Who would believe that a Willie Tyler thread could lead to an Irish Group. I don't believe there is a question that cannot be answered by someone on this forum. I am also tickled because the first two songs I ever performed in front of an audience were "Who Put the Overalls in Mrs Murphy's Chowder" and "Fare Ye Well Ye Banks of Sicily" (and I was a little Black boy wearing a shamrock tie and green bowler hat). Needless to say, I brought the house down. LOL!!!!!!

By John Lester (217.40.194.192) on Tuesday, June 03, 2003 - 04:04 pm:

Michael

I think I am gonna have to demand that you post a picture for us all to see!

By mhc (172.146.158.113) on Tuesday, June 03, 2003 - 04:11 pm:

I remember when that was a hit on Keener, and I never understood it either; maybe someone else can offer an explanation. I might like the record now, who knows, but back then whenever it would come on, I'd think, "God, why are they playing this?.." If you look at the Keener music guides on keener13.com, you'll see that the Detroit area at that time just had really singular taste. Myself, I'm glad to have grown up in a place where "You're Gonna Miss Me" by The 13th Floor Elevators was a #1 record.

By Michael/cleoharvey (160.79.83.208) on Tuesday, June 03, 2003 - 04:28 pm:

John Lester:

LOL!! I think that in this day an age the picture would be considered a "career buster." We were in a kinder, gentler era in some ways (1960).

By Davie Gordon (193.122.21.42) on Tuesday, June 03, 2003 - 05:28 pm:

Hi Marshall,

I've been looking over the charts on the WKNR
website and you're right - they played some amazing stuff. It's so great to see that some
records I've loved for years and thought of as
relative failures chartwise scored really high
positions on WKNR. The Elevators was a revelation - I wonder how high it charted in
Texas ( nationally it peaked at #55 on Billboard)

I knew some had been local hits but had no idea just how big - the Underdogs' "Love's Gone Bad"
at # 2 and many others. The Human Beings scoring a
top 20 hit and their near-namesakes the Human
Beinz at # 1 for a month with "Nobody But Me".

I'm in the middle of collating info. from the WKNR charts with the intention of doing a
Detroit version of the Whitburn chart books.

Endlessly fascinating - there are many records that charted high on WKNR but didn't even hit
Billboard's "Bubbling Under" charts.

Davie

By Larry (216.23.183.2) on Tuesday, June 03, 2003 - 06:15 pm:

What a great thread folks.
Entertaining (Michael/Cleo) and as always, educational.

The days of a regional hit are numbered further with the likes of the FCC ruling yesterday; the coninuing saga of the corporate purchase of our Free Press.

By Bigjime (152.163.252.68) on Tuesday, June 03, 2003 - 08:17 pm:

"Off To Dublin In The Green" by The Abbey Tavern Singers was first heard in the U.S./Canada in a television commercial which became so popular that the record was then released. I think it was a spot for a beer company, but I don't recall which one.